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The power of psychedelics meets the power of placebo: ketamine, opioids, and hope in depression treatment | Boris Heifets & Theresa Lii
Nov 21, 2024
Join Boris Heifets, a Stanford anesthesiologist researching psychedelic medicine, and Theresa Lii, his collaborator in exploring ketamine and the placebo effect. They dive into the surprising dynamics of ketamine in depression treatment. Discover how much of its efficacy stems from the drug versus the excitement of trial participation. They also discuss the complex interplay between the placebo effect and the opioid system, while challenging conventional views on placebo in psychiatric care, revealing its potential as a valuable aspect of treatment.
35:10
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast reveals that the interplay between ketamine and placebo effects challenges conventional views on treatment efficacy in mental health care.
- Innovative research methods distinguish genuine drug effects from placebo responses, shedding light on the complexities of depression treatment.
Deep dives
The Promise of Psychedelic Medicine
The podcast discusses the potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine to treat mental health disorders such as depression and PTSD. These substances are gaining attention due to their rapid onset of effects, which can occur within hours, contrasting sharply with traditional antidepressants that often take weeks to work. Research over the past 25 years has indicated that ketamine can lead to sustained improvement in depressive symptoms after just one dose. This changing perspective on mental health treatment signifies a potential shift away from conventional therapies and highlights the need for continued exploration of psychedelic substances in clinical settings.
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